Speeches by Reader.

“It is interesting to hear from you today and in other evidence how critical energy costs are, and it is good to hear that potentially if we solve that we will see lots of your members investing in manufacturing and production in the UK. I am sure there are no other issues that are stopping them from doing that. Nissan …”

“I guess we have heard the answer to my next question all the way through the session. Is this having an impact on international competitiveness? I wanted to explore that a bit more. If we did solve this energy cost issue, would that really drive investment from your businesses into the UK? Is that really the big issue …”

“In a wider sense in terms of energy security and net zero, carbon impacts on pricing, of course. Where we have seen government investing in direct schemes—such as Peak Cluster, which will help clients in the MPA—does that boost business confidence as well, that the Government are taking more proactive actions to addres…”

“The industrial strategy talks about the benefits of the Government’s deal with the EU and exploring re-entering the EU electricity market. Do you think that would be a good idea for your industries?”

“So, whoever is going to do that exploration—if there are opportunities at DESNZ or it is going to be DEBATE, or whoever is owning that with the industrial strategy—we want to see that sooner rather than later to be able to benefit from those benefits you are talking about. Is that fair?”

“I thank the hon. Member for Winchester (Dr Chambers) for bringing forward the Bill, and for all his work to get it to this stage. We should also thank the former hon. Member for North Devon, who I understand brought forward the Bill in the previous Parliament; it did not quite get through Parliament before the general …”

“It is a pleasure to speak on another animal welfare Bill today. As the hon. Member for Chester South and Eddisbury (Aphra Brandreth) said, it is fantastic to see this legislation brought in by a party that is not in government, with cross-party support. I declare that I am a member of the National Farmers Union food an…”

“On that point, I went to the Hardingstone village fair this weekend—I had a pop-up surgery. I want to thank the constituent who came to tell me about the dog poo epidemic in Hardingstone. She asked, “What’s the Government going to do to help?” I confirmed that we will make sure that councils have the power to address t…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing forward this important Bill. It is fantastic to see space made in today’s programme to debate it. Many of the contributions have been out of this world. [Interruption.] I am sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Bill is a timely and necessary measu…”

“I am sure they are working hard in their constituencies right now.”

“Where they are from, I do not know, but I am sure they are working hard in their constituencies right now. I will keep the collegiate relationship we have here today, but I thank my hon. Friend for that comment. I was talking about international impacts. As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on internationa…”

“This summer, the women’s club world cup comes to Northampton. If it was in another country, this legislation would be critical, because I am sure that many want to see the England women’s rugby team play, as they will do at Franklin’s Gardens. Does my hon. Friend agree that, as we see more interest in sports, particula…”

“As we are talking about constituency issues, a sad thing happened in Northampton a few weeks ago. There was an arson attack in Dunelm, and that spread to Pets at Home in the St James retail park. Unfortunately, that fire ripped through the vet, the dog groomers and the store. Will the Minister join me in thanking all t…”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker—you make a good point. As I was saying, when I come home and see Dash, it is a great opportunity to decompress. I agree with the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) that that is such a valuable part of owning a dog. In closing, I want to thank a number of organisations tha…”

“I could not agree more. It is critical that we do more in Parliament to raise these issues. I also welcome some of the minor amendments made in Committee, which strengthen the Bill further and will reassure people, particularly in the limited circumstances in which the Bill may have unintended consequences. It is the s…”

“It is fantastic to hear about that campaign, and I would fully support it. But there are also positives in the world of pets on social media. I follow an account, Southend Dog Training, which has helped me with free advice to ensure that Dash, my little Chorkie—full name: Dash Potato Evans-Reader—sits, walks and does n…”

“I completely agree. I was a candidate for 17 months, and for a long while I ran #DoorstepDogs; every week, I took a photo of my favourite dog that I met on the doorstep. Unfortunately, I have given up on that. Maybe I should bring it back.”

“I should state for the record, and for colleagues in Hansard, that I am not my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell (Peter Swallow), as was suggested earlier this week. For those online, I am not my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (Dan Aldridge), either, whom I was quoted as being this week. Nor am I a mem…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. Chris and Nicole in my constituency lost their daughter Beccy nearly 18 years ago. On losing her, they discovered a postcode lottery for bereavement services. Some police services provide them, but some do not. It is important that we discuss road safety measures, but I …”

“We have talked about the net zero and energy security narrative, but to what extent do you see nature protection and environmental benefits coming up in how people talk about the energy transition?”